When quizzed on the explicit nature of the film, Cantona replied: "Porn? No, it's not porn. It's a piece of art. It's just a piece of art. But you can see it like this. It's beautiful. You should see it.

"Unfortunately, porn is not so aesthetic and so beautiful.

Speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards, he added: "But love is sex also, you know? This kind of story for the ones who have seen it - I'm sure nobody has seen it - it's too beautiful. This kind of story, when you choose to do it, you have to know the director.

"If it's somebody special, if it's a real artist, you can do it. You can give, and be confident enough."

He said: "In sport, I had to work very hard, I had to work very hard, to come in, play the game, and to be confident enough to enjoy the game. And, as an actor, it's exactly the same.

"So, for me, it's not so different. We are in front of an audience, we are in front of everything. It's a public job so we have to share it with the people. And it's teamwork, also. We have to work with other actors and we are directed by a director - in football, by a coach.

"For me, it's very similar. It's just another game. So, I'm not bored."